WATER DISPENSERS FOR DISPENSING CARBONIZED WATER AND METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a carbonized water dispensing device (1) provided with a carbonized water conditioning chamber (2), which conditioning chamber (2) is provided downstream of the carbonator (7) and upstream of the carbonized water dispensing outlet (5), for receiving a mixture of carbonized water mixed with unresolved CO2, which conditioning chamber (2) is dimensioned to hold a single serve of carbonized water with a headspace, and which carbonized water conditioning chamber (2) is provided with an outlet valve (17) and a gas outlet (18). According to the invention, the carbonized water dispensing device (1) is configured to, upon receiving a beverage dispensing order, provide the empty carbonized water conditioning chamber (2) with a single serve volume of carbonized water, and hold the single serve of carbonized water prior to dispensing the single serve volume of carbonized water.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A carbonized water dispensing device comprising: a carbonized water dispensing outlet, for dispensing carbonized water into a beverage container; a cold water source; a CO.sub.2 source; a water line, the water line extending between the cold water source and a dispensing outlet; a water carbonation system comprising an in-line carbonator for adding CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 source to the water flowing through the water line from the cold water source to the dispensing outlet, wherein the in-line carbonator comprises: a tubular conduit disposed about a longitudinal axis, extending from an input end to and output end, and defining a fluid flow path from the input end to the output end; an inlet manifold comprising a first inlet for water, a second inlet for carbon dioxide, and an outlet in fluid communication with the input end of the conduit; wherein the conduit comprises a first treatment trajectory directly followed by a conditioning trajectory directly followed by a second treatment trajectory, such that the water subsequently flows from the first treatment trajectory into the conditioning trajectory into the second treatment trajectory; wherein each treatment trajectory comprises: a helical dispersion element disposed in the conduit and having an axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit; a passive accelerator located immediately downstream of the helical dispersion element, wherein the passive accelerator comprises a restriction portion of the conduit having a reduced cross sectional area relative to portions of the conduit immediately upstream and downstream of the restriction portion; a rigid impact surface immediately downstream of the passive accelerator, which rigid impact surface is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit; and wherein the conditioning trajectory comprises: a conditioning conduit extending between the first and second treatment trajectories, the conditioning conduit having an axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the rigid impact surface is provided in the form of a rib member that bridges the conduit in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit, such that a part of the rib member fills a central portion of the conduit and the rib member defines two peripheral flow paths located outside of the central portion of the conduit.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the tubular conduit, helical dispersion elements, and restriction portions are aligned along the central longitudinal axis of the conduit, and the peripheral flow paths are offset from the central longitudinal axis of the conduit in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the conduit.

20. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the restriction portion of the passive accelerators has an energy loss coefficient in the range of 0.1 to 0.44.

21. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the impact surface is spaced from the restriction.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the impact surface is spaced from the restriction such that the helical dispersion element extends along half of the treatment trajectory and the passive accelerator extends along half of the treatment trajectory.

23. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the conditioning trajectory comprises an expanding section, having in an increase in diameter in the flow direction, followed by a section having a continuous diameter, wherein the first and second section each extend along half of the conditioning trajectory.

24. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the conditioning trajectory and the treatment trajectories each have a similar length.

25. A carbonator, comprising: a tubular conduit disposed about a longitudinal axis, extending from an input end to and output end, and defining a fluid flow path from the input end to the output end; an inlet manifold comprising a first inlet for water, a second inlet for carbon dioxide, and an outlet in fluid communication with the input end of the conduit; wherein the conduit comprises a first treatment trajectory directly followed by a conditioning trajectory directly followed by a second treatment trajectory, such that the water subsequently flows from the first treatment trajectory into the conditioning trajectory into the second treatment trajectory; wherein each treatment trajectory comprises: a helical dispersion element disposed in the conduit and having an axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit; a passive accelerator located immediately downstream of the helical dispersion element, wherein the passive accelerator comprises a restriction portion of the conduit having a reduced cross sectional area relative to portions of the conduit immediately upstream and downstream of the restriction portion; a rigid impact surface immediately downstream of the passive accelerator, which rigid impact surface is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit; and wherein the conditioning trajectory comprises: a conditioning conduit extending between the first and second treatment trajectories, the conditioning conduit having an axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

26. Method for the solubilization of carbon dioxide in water using an apparatus according to claim 25, the method comprising the steps: providing the apparatus with water and CO.sub.2; mix the water and CO.sub.2 and create an annular-dispersed flow with the helical dispersion element; accelerate the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 in the accelerator; direct the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 to collide with the rigid surface, thereby creating a pressure sufficient to solubilize the carbon dioxide into the water; pass the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 through a conditioning conduit; create an annular-dispersed flow in the second helical dispersion element; accelerate the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 in the second accelerator; direct the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 to collide with the rigid surface, thereby creating a pressure sufficient to solubilize the carbon dioxide into the water.

27. Method according to claim 26, wherein the method further comprises the strep: passing the mixture of carbonized water with undissolved CO.sub.2 through a flow compensator and collecting the mixture of carbonized water with undissolved CO.sub.2 in a carbonized water conditioning chamber, prior to dispensing the carbonized water.

28. Method according to claim 27, wherein the method further comprises the strep: mixing the carbonized water with an ingredient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0100] In the drawings:

[0101] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a carbonized water dispensing device according to the invention; and

[0102] FIG. 2 shows a detailed side view in cross section of an exemplary embodiment of an in-line carbonator according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0103] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a carbonized water dispensing device 1 according to the invention. It is noted that the diagram shows the dispensing device partially in cross section and that components have been simplified for explanatory purpose.

[0104] According to the present invention, the carbonated water dispenser 1 features an in-line conditioning chamber 2. The carbonized water dispensing device 1 further comprises a cold water source 3, a CO.sub.2 source 4, a carbonized water dispensing outlet 5 and a water line 6 extending between the cold water source 3 and the dispensing outlet 5. The water line 6 comprises an in-line carbonator 7, an in-line flow compensator 8, and a user interface 9.

[0105] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the carbonized water dispensing device 1 is configured to mix the carbonized water with an ingredient, e.g. syrup, after the carbonized water has been held in the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2. Therefore, the dispensing device 1 comprises a seat 12 for holding an ingredient cartridge 13 downstream of the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2 and in the flow path of the carbonized water dispensed from the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2, to mix the carbonized water with an ingredient, e.g. syrup, after the carbonized water has been held in the carbonized water conditioning chamber.

[0106] In the embodiment shown, the carbonized water dispensing outlet 5 is configured for dispensing a single serve carbonized water volume into a beverage container. The dispensing device 1 furthermore comprises a beverage container support surface 10, which in FIG. 1 supports a beverage container in the form of a cup 11 below the carbonized water dispensing outlet for receiving a single serve carbonized water volume, in the embodiment shown mixed with an ingredient, preferably a syrup.

[0107] The cold water source 3 is configured for providing multiple servings, preferably at least five servings.

[0108] In the embodiment shown, the cold water source 3 comprises a water supply 14 that consists of a simple municipal or well water feed. The cold water source 3 furthermore comprises an extension of the water line 6, which extension passes through a chiller configured to cool the water in the water line. In the embodiment shown, the chiller is provided in the form of a reservoir 15 that comprises a volume of cold water. The water line 6 passes through said volume of cold water, in the embodiment shown in a spiral configuration to maximize the cooling effect, such that the water line, and thus the water in the water line is cooled.

[0109] In an alternative embodiment, the cold water source 3 comprises a cooling reservoir having a volume of multiple servings. This reservoir could in turn be connected to a simple municipal or well water feed to keep the reservoir level constant. It is noted that the water held in the reservoir is to be carbonated after a consumer has entered a dispensing instruction into the user interface. Furthermore, from the reservoir single serve volumes are dispensed into the water line once a consumer has entered a dispensing instruction into the user interface.

[0110] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the section of the water line 6 comprising the in-line carbonator 7 is located within the volume of cold water of the cold water reservoir 15, such that water and CO.sub.2 are cooled while being mixed.

[0111] In a preferred embodiment, the cold water source also comprises a pump to provide a consistent water pressure. As the pressure at a typical home or commercial water tap may vary from location to location or from time to time, providing a pump will ensure that the apparatus receives a consistent pressure no matter what the local supply pressure is. Such a water pump is configured to pump a single serve volume of carbonized water under pressure, preferably a pressure through the water line and through the carbonized water dispensing outlet.

[0112] The CO.sub.2 source 4 is connected to the in-line carbonator 7 and to the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2 to provide each of them with CO.sub.2. The CO.sub.2 source 4 can be embodied by any known way for supplying a gas. A commercially available CO.sub.2 canister is preferably used. The CO.sub.2 source would typically be connected through a regulator, which provides a controlled supply pressure to the in-line carbonator.

[0113] The in-line carbonator 7 is configured for adding CO.sub.2 to the water provided by the cold water source 3. The in-line carbonator, or solubilizer, can be an in-line carbonator known from the prior art. In FIG. 1 the in-line carbonator is schematically depicted. Preferably, the in-line carbonator is configured as the in-line carbonator shown in FIG. 2, which will be discussed in more detail further below.

[0114] The in-line carbonator 7 is provided in the water line 6, and is connected to the CO.sub.2 source 4, for adding CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 source to the water flowing through the water line from the water cooling reservoir to the carbonized water dispensing outlet.

[0115] The in-line flow compensator 8 is provided in the water line 6, downstream of the in-line carbonator 7, for conditioning the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 from the in-line flow compensator.

[0116] According to the invention, the carbonized water dispenser 1 comprises the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2. The conditioning chamber 2 is provided downstream of the flow compensator 8 and upstream of the carbonized water dispensing outlet 5, for receiving a mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 from the in-line flow compensator 8.

[0117] The carbonized water conditioning chamber 2 is provided with an outlet valve 17 and a gas outlet 18.

[0118] The outlet valve 17 is configured for, in a closed condition, enabling the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2 to hold the single serve volume of carbonized water, and for, in an open condition, allowing the single serve volume of carbonized water to flow out of the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2 and subsequently out of the carbonized water dispensing outlet into the beverage container 11.

[0119] The gas outlet 18 is configured for, in a closed condition, preventing undissolved CO.sub.2, which enters the conditioning chamber in combination with the single serve volume of carbonized water, from escaping the conditioning chamber. Thus, the undissolved CO.sub.2 is retained in the conditioning chamber while the single serve volume of carbonized water is received, which results in a pressure increase in the chamber. Preferably, the gas outlet thus enables a pressure increase of up to 1.25-4 bar or more in the conditioning chamber during the inflow of the mixture of the single serve volume of carbonized water and the undissolved CO.sub.2.

[0120] The gas outlet 18 is furthermore configured for, in an open condition, allowing undissolved CO.sub.2 to escape the conditioning chamber, and thus for the pressure in the conditioning chamber 2 to lower to atmospheric pressure or near atmospheric pressure, prior to the single serve carbonized water volume flowing out of the conditioning chamber.

[0121] According to the invention, the conditioning chamber 2 is dimensioned to hold a single serve of carbonized water with a headspace. Furthermore, the carbonized water dispensing device is configured to, upon receiving a beverage dispensing order, provide the empty carbonized water conditioning chamber with a single serve volume of carbonized water, and hold the single serve of carbonized water prior to dispensing the single serve volume of carbonized water. Once the single serve volume of carbonized water is drained from the conditioning chamber, the conditioning chamber remains empty until a new beverage dispensing order is received and a new beverage is dispensed.

[0122] The user interface 9 comprising a control device 19 configured to receive a beverage dispensing order, and subsequently actuate the carbonized water dispensing device to dispense a single serve volume of carbonized water. In the embodiment shown, the interface 9 is provided in the form of an electronic interface, more in particular an interface comprising a push button that allows a consumer to actuate the dispenser and thus dispense a single serve volume of carbonized water.

[0123] In the embodiment shown, the user interface is connected to a valve 16, which in an open condition allows water to flow from the water supply 14 into the water line 6, to the CO.sub.2 source 4, for providing the carbonator with CO.sub.2, to the outlet valve 17 for allowing the single serve volume of carbonized water to flow out of the carbonized water conditioning chamber after it has been held, and to the gas outlet 18 to allow the pressure in the conditioning chamber to lower to atmospheric pressure or near atmospheric pressure prior to the single serve carbonized water volume flowing out of the conditioning chamber.

[0124] FIG. 2 shows a detailed side view in cross section of the in-line carbonator 7 according to the invention. The in-line carbonator, or apparatus for the solubilization of carbon dioxide in water, comprises a tubular conduit 51 disposed about a longitudinal axis, extending from an input end 52 to and output end 53, and defining a fluid flow path from the input end to the output end.

[0125] The in-line carbonator further comprises an inlet manifold 54 comprising a first inlet for water 55, a second inlet 56 for carbon dioxide, and an outlet 57 in fluid communication with the input end 51 of the tubular conduit 50.

[0126] The conduit 50 comprises a first treatment trajectory 58 followed by a conditioning trajectory 59 followed by a second treatment trajectory 60. According to the invention, each treatment trajectory comprises a helical dispersion element 61, a passive accelerator 62, and a rigid impact surface 63.

[0127] The helical dispersion element 61 is disposed in the conduit 50 and having an axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

[0128] The passive accelerator 62 is located immediately downstream of the helical dispersion element 61. The passive accelerator 62 comprises a restriction portion of the conduit 50 having a reduced cross sectional area relative to portions of the conduit immediately upstream and downstream of the restriction portion.

[0129] The rigid impact surface 63 is provided immediately downstream of the passive accelerator 62. The rigid impact surface 63 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit 50.

[0130] The conditioning trajectory 59 comprises a conditioning conduit extending between the first treatment trajectory 58 and the second treatment trajectory 60. The conditioning conduit has an axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

[0131] The carbonized water dispensing device 1 is configured for providing a single serve of carbonized water.

[0132] When a consumer provides the user interface 9 with a beverage dispensing order, thus starting the dispensing process, the user interface subsequently actuates the carbonized water dispensing device 1 to dispense a single serve volume of carbonized water. Thus, a single serve water volume is passed through the in-line carbonator 7 and through the in-line flow compensator 8, thus creating a mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2.

[0133] In the particular embodiment shown, the solubilization of carbon dioxide in water is achieved by providing the in-line carbonator 7 with water and CO.sub.2. The water and CO.sub.2 are mixed and create an annular-dispersed flow in the helical dispersion element 61. Subsequently, the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 is accelerated in the passive accelerator 62, after which the mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 is directed to collide with the rigid impact surface 63, thereby creating a pressure sufficient to solubilize the carbon dioxide into the water.

[0134] The mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 is than passed through a conditioning conduit of the conditioning trajectory 59, after which an annular-dispersed flow is created in the second helical dispersion element. The mixture of carbonized water mixed with undissolved CO.sub.2 is accelerated in the second accelerator, and is directed to collide with the rigid impact surface 63, thereby creating a pressure sufficient to solubilize the carbon dioxide into the water.

[0135] The mixture of carbonized water with undissolved CO.sub.2 is subsequently passed through the in-line flow compensator 8 and is collected in the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2.

[0136] The single serve volume of carbonized water is allowed to flow into the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2 and thus increases the pressure in the carbonized water conditioning chamber, preferably up to a pressure of 1.25-4 bar, for example about 1.5 bar.

[0137] In the embodiment shown, the carbonized water conditioning chamber 2 is provided with the gas outlet 18, which is configured to keep the pressure in the conditioning chamber below a predetermined pressure, in the embodiment shown at 1.25 bar.

[0138] After the conditioning chamber 2 has been filled with the single serve carbonated water volume, the single serve carbonated water volume is held for a period in the range of 2 seconds. Then, the pressure in the conditioning chamber is reduced to substantially atmospheric pressure.

[0139] The single serve carbonized water volume is allowed to flow out of the conditioning chamber 2, and via the dispensing outlet 5 into a beverage container 11. In the preferred embodiment shown, the dispensing device is 1 comprises a seat 12 for holding the ingredient cartridge 13 downstream of the outlet valve 17 of the carbonized water conditioning chamber 1 and in the flow path of the carbonized water dispensed via said outlet valve 17, to mix the carbonized water with an ingredient, e.g. syrup, after the carbonized water has been held in the carbonized water conditioning chamber.

[0140] A dispenser according to the invention is configured to provide a consumer with a predetermined volume of carbonized water. The predetermined volume can be received in a beverage container, e.g. a glass or cup. In an embodiment, the dispenser is configured for also allowing a consumer to fill a bottle with carbonized water.

[0141] According to the invention, the mixture of the single serve volume of carbonized water and the undissolved CO.sub.2 flows from the in-line flow compensator into the carbonized water conditioning chamber, which chamber is located downstream of the in-line flow compensator. The single serve volume of carbonated water is subsequently held under pressure in that conditioning chamber, after which the pressure is lowered and the single serve volume is dispensed at atmospheric or near atmospheric pressure. It is submitted that the temporarily retention in the carbonized water conditioning chamber is part of the in-line carbonization processes, i.e. the solubilization of CO.sub.2 (carbon dioxide) in the single serve water volume. Therefore, carbonized water enters the conditioning chamber only during a dispensing cycle, the carbonized water conditioning chamber does not hold more than a single serve volume of carbonized water, and does not hold any substantial water volume between dispensing cycles. Furthermore, in-line mixing of the single serve volume of carbonized water with any ingredient, e.g. syrup, will take place downstream of the carbonized water conditioning chamber.

[0142] The invention is advantageously used in an in-line carbonization device for dispensing predetermined single serve volumes of carbonized water. In such a configuration, the water is carbonized using an in-line carbonator and an in-line flow compensator. With each serving, only the volume of water required for a single serve, i.e. a metered single serve volume, is carbonized while being dispensed. Thus, there is no reservoir, or a carbonating tank or saturator, for storing a large volume of pre-carbonized water, i.e. water carbonized prior to a consumer providing a dispensing order. Furthermore, because the dispenser is able to provide beverages with a relatively high CO.sub.2 content, a carbonized water dispensing device according to the invention is in particular useful in providing soda beverages, more in particular for in-line mixing the single serve carbonized water volume with an ingredient, e.g. a syrup or extract, since these types of drinks are typically associated with high CO.sub.2 content.